Top 5 Islands in Asia: Readers' Choice Awards 2013

Lombok

**Scenery: **92.9

**Friendliness: **88.1

**Atmosphere: **73.8

**Restaurants: **62.5

**Lodging: **70.8

**Activities: **68.8

**Beaches: **79.3

Our readers think of Lombok as "a less commercial island than Bali with clean beaches and interesting sites," such as the volcano Mount Rinjani. The "relaxing and romantic" island has "so many spots with breathtaking views," and "beautiful" and "empty" beaches.

Alamy/Paul Brown

Phuket

**Scenery: **81.3

**Friendliness: **79.4

**Atmosphere: **77.4

**Restaurants: **71

**Lodging: **79.6

**Activities: **81.6

**Beaches: **81.8

Phuket dropped from No. 2 to No. 4 this year, with some readers calling it too "chaotic" and filled with "too many tourists." But many more still love it, saying it's "still a very warm and lovely place to vacation," "good for families," a "great mix of traditional life and modern amenities" and has "the best beaches in Asia." "You can make it what you want, quiet, busy or a bit of both. Really enjoyed it."

Alamy/Horizon

Cebu & Visayan Islands

**Scenery: **86.0

**Friendliness: **88.8

**Atmosphere: **78.5

**Restaurants: **68.3

**Lodging: **78.4

**Activities: **79.2

**Beaches: **83.5

These islands "have it all," including "all the shopping and restaurant needs for any traveler" with "the friendliest people you will meet anywhere in the world!" The nightlife is big here, but "not as wild as Phuket." Entertainment is "smaller, more up-close and personal." One reader said "in all my years of traveling, Cebu is my No. 1 choice!" while another said "it is probably the best island city on the universe."

Getty/www.virgonc.com

Koh Samui

**Scenery: **87.2

**Friendliness: **86.6

**Atmosphere: **83.2

**Restaurants: **77.5

**Lodging: **86.4

**Activities: **83.2

**Beaches: **75.4

"Beautiful island with a fun nightlife and great restaurants" though some readers felt it was "almost too developed" and "too commercial." Nevertheless, Koh Samui moved up to our No. 2 slot from No. 5 last year. Our readers found "awesome climbing," "many activities," "the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen," and "plentiful natural foilage and beauty."

Getty/Robert Harding

1.Bali

**Scenery: **89.9

**Friendliness: **90.9

**Atmosphere: **86.6

**Restaurants: **79.7

**Lodging: **84.7

**Activities: **82.3

**Beaches: **66.1

"Paradise, again and again!" is a sentiment expressed over and over by our Bali-loving readers, who voted this "island of the Gods" No. 1 yet again. It's a "wonderful place to visit with plenty of places to suit all budgets and interests." "Probably the sweetest people in the world. Hotels are exquisite, culture is exotic and rich, food is extraordinary." Another reader simply said "wow."